Bell Media picks up Pyramid Productions’ “Style Bio”

April 18, 2012 by Jordan Twiss

Jeanne Beker

It has only been one week since Bell Media suspended production of the iconic series Fashion Television (pictured, host Jeanne Beker) and now the Canadian telecom company has announced that it’s picking up 60 episodes of Calgary-based Pyramid Productions’ Style Bio.

However, Scott Henderson, VP of communications for Bell, says the two events are unrelated.

“Style Bio has been in development for E! for some time now, and is not directly related to the suspension of production on Fashion Television,” he told realscreen‘s sister publication Playback Daily.

“However, as we said last week, we are looking to broaden the appeal of Fashion Television Channel and this type of programming fits into that mandate,” he added.

The original docu-series, which began production this month and will air on E! and Fashion Television Channel starting in June, tells the style stories of current noteworthy celebs, including Beyonce, Kim Cattrall, Angelina Jolie and Madonna.

It takes viewers from the stars’ humble beginnings to their A-list looks, with archival footage, photographs and panels of stylists, designers and fashion journalists who will weigh in on the celebrities’ styles.

“We were trying to come up with a show that would suit the E! brand really well, and we wanted it to reflect celebrity and fashion,” Jason Ford, one of the series’ producers from Pyramid Productions, told Playback Daily.

“We thought there was a huge opportunity that had never been done before, to go back and tell celebrities’ career stories from a fashion and style focus,” he explains. Henderson says Style Bio is aimed at women ages 18 to 49.

He adds that the show will have an online component, but that the details for it have yet to be confirmed. He also could not divulge any figures for the series’ budget.

Producers for Style Bio are Tracy Martin, Jason Ford and Sheila Rae, with Kara Haflidson acting as production executive for Bell Media.

Tags: Bell Media, E! Canada, Fashion Television, Pyramid Productions, Style Bio